Site Navigation

Site Mobile Navigation

Marathon Tech: Rooting for Runners on Nov. 1

The New York Road Runners will offer two ways to track runners in Sunday’s New York City marathon. The Athlete Tracker Web-application will let fans track to 10 runners on race day.

Marathon day in New York is one of the most celebrated days in the city. On Sunday, more than 40,000 runners are expected to participate in the 40th New York City marathon. For the past six months, I had been working up to run my first marathon, but recently, I’ve been sidelined with an injury and must defer until 2010.

Since my plans have shifted from participant to observer, I’ve been researching ways fans can keep track of their favorite runners, scope out the best viewing spots along the route, or watch from the comfort of their home.

If you’re trying to find where on the route to find your friends, the New York Road Runners club, which hosts the marathon, now offers two distinct ways to track athletes, said Ken Winell, vice president of Administration and Operations at NYRRC.

First, you can sign up to receive an e-mail or text alert through on the official marathon site to track up to four runners. After registering, you can search by runner’s name, bib number, team or other criteria, and then simply add them to your list.

On race day, you’ll receive alerts that include their time and split when they cross the Start and Finish lines, as well as the 5K, 10K, and 15K markers. After the 15K split, you’ll need track them online if you want to see their stats for miles 14 through 26.

The second application is the Web-based Athlete Tracker. Fans can track up to 10 racers, and doesn’t require advance registration like the e-mail alert. The app will be live on race day at athletetracker.ingnyc.org (the link will not work until Nov. 1). In addition to showing the 5K splits, you can also track miles 14 through 26. Its map feature will show their race pace and other stats. While there isn’t an smartphone app yet, you will be able to access the tracker from a mobile device on its browser. “In 2010, we will have advanced mobility” options, Winell said.

The New York Times’ online coverage will include a timelapse video, updates along the route, slide shows, and more. Twitter-folk can also follow updates by searching #nycmarathon.

If you’re scoping out the best places to watch the race while brunching, Zagat has its own spectator’s guide for dining.

Subway woes can be minimized if you plan in advance. Hopstop gives you point-to-point subway directions, or you can check out the MTA’s site to make sure there are no train outages over the weekend. Got an iPhone? Check out NYC subway apps, including iTrans NYC Subway or the NYC Subway 24-Hour KickMap, which has a station-finder feature.

If you can’t get to the race, but are in New York, you can watch it on WNBC 4 starting at 9AM until 2PM, or elsewhere in the United States on NBC Sports from 2PM to 4PM. NBC will also offer live streaming. On Monday, anyone can check out the complete list of results on the official marathon Web site.

Good luck to those of you who are running on Sunday. I hope to see you in 2010!

Do you have a favorite place to watch the race? Share your insider tips below.

Hey Danielle, it doesn’t look as if you’ve checked out AudioFuel – custom composed music for running combined with voice over coaching. All our music is categorised by bpms. //www.audiofuel.co.uk. If you’d like us to send you some links, pop us an email. Clare

What's Next

About

Gadgetwise is a blog about everything related to buying and using tech products. From figuring out which gadget to buy and how to get the best deal on it to configuring it once it’s out of the box, Gadgetwise offers a mix of information, analysis and opinion to help you get the most out of your personal tech.